Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 Route stage 5: Grenoble - Valmorel

Friday, 8 June 2018 - Stage 5 in the Critérium du Dauphiné is a compact affair. At 130.5 kilometres, the race travels from Grenoble to Valmorel. Hilly opening, flat middle section, and a summit finish after a 12.7 kilometres climb at 7%.

It’s been four years since Grenoble last served as the start to a major pro-cycling race. Actually, the town hosted two races in 2016 – firstly, the Dauphiné left for a stage to Poisy (Jan Bakelants win) and then the Tour de France traveled to Risoul (Rafal Majka win).

The 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné sets off from the town in the foothills of the Alps and goes to Valmorel. In the first 20 kilometres the riders tackle Côte de Naysord (3.7 kilometres at 8.5%) and Col de Mouilles (3.8 kilometer at 7.2%). Following the second KOM the road does not descend straight away but continues to rise in false flat fashion before the drop eventually appears at kilometre 30. Back in the valley another short climb leads to 60 kilometres on the flat. Then the last climb looms.

The closing climb is 12.7 kilometres and averaging 7%. It’s a steady ascent, the second half slightly steeper than the first half. The last 700 metres to the line in Valmorel flatten out to 4%.

The first three riders on the line win time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds. The race does not include intermediate sprints.